This time, former Terp Len has surgery on right ankle

Sun staff reports

Alex Len, the former Maryland center who was drafted fifth overall by the Phoenix Suns last month, underwent surgery on his right ankle Monday.

"As a precautionary measure, our medical staff determined that it would be prudent to perform surgery on Alex Len's right ankle at this time," Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said last week. "As part of a routine evaluation, our medical team identified the very beginnings of a stress fracture in Alex's right ankle even though Alex was entirely asymptomatic. We expect him to be available to begin the season."

Len had surgery on a partial stress fracture of the left ankle April 27.

Asked whether he still felt good about drafting Len, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough told the Valley of the Suns blog: "I would say short answer, 'Yes.' Our medical people, who are some of the best in the league, took a close look at it and studied it. And we're confident he won't have issues going forward. So I guess I'll just say we would not have drafted him if we thought it was a significant medical risk."